The Tailspinner

My name is Linda S. Davis, and I am a spinner and also raise angora rabbits for their wool and to show. I demonstrate spinning at area events and at our local schools when invited to do so. I have always enjoyed knitting and other needlework, but I wanted to do something special that would preserve an artwork that is seldom done anymore. Since I had acquired two antique spinning wheels that I wished I could work, I did some investigating and found a marvelous place in Virginia's Shennandoah Valley called the River Farm where I attended my first spinning class.

We spent four marvelous days learning the basics of spinning, about different fibers and animals, and how to dye with natural colors. My first attempts at spinning were not exactly what I expected, but the instructors encouraged me to work on my technique when I got home. After many hours of determination, I actually did get the hang of it; and I now look forward to sitting down with my wheels to see what I can create.

About six months later, my son Sean wanted to join 4-H and do a project with a small animal. We cannot have livestock where we live, so I asked him if he would like to raise an angora rabbit. That way, I could use the rabbit's wool for spinning. Little did I know that I would get hooked on these wonderful little creatures.

I had never even considered having a rabbit as a pet, because I thought they were members of the rodent family. I was wrong. Rabbits belong to the class called Lagomorpha, which means "hare-shape" in Greek. They have two rows of top teeth; and the sharp front teeth, used for gnawing, never stop growing.

We have raised both English and French Angoras since 1996. We limit our number of rabbits to a manageable number due to the extra care they need for grooming. Currently, we have eight English Angoras and two French. The French Angoras do not require as much grooming as the English, but both breeds have adorable personalities, making them terrific pets.

My ambitions for the future (when I retire from my current job) included the building of a workshop and barn to expand our rabbit herd and to hold classes for spinning and other crafting projects. My husband Bill made part of that dream a reality this past year by building me a workshop and small barn, and we were able to expand from four rabbits to the ten we currently have. This leaves me with learning how to weave on a loom and retiring from my full time job. That will probably be a while, but I am quite content with where I am so far.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about spinning or rabbits, please send me an e-mail by clicking on the "e-mail" icon below. I'd love to hear from you.

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